2008 Woodie Awards
Game shows off hoopsters
Sam Martin - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Fresh off a win at Kinnick Stadium on Oct. 27, several thousand Hawkeye faithful flocked to Carver-Hawkeye Arena for their first glimpses of the men's basketball team under new head coach Todd Lickliter.
Tony Freeman had a game-high 18 points to lead the Black squad to a 51-49 win in the 16th-annual Black and Gold Blowout. Senior Justin Johnson had 17 points for the Gold squad, and freshman guard Jeff Peterson added 11.
"We're just trying to get our feet wet and get guys going in the flow of things," Freeman said.
Lickliter liked the team's performance but said he thought the team lacked fluidity.
"What you saw out there is a group of guys who really care, and they're trying hard to complement one another and pick up the system," Lickliter said. "The kind of downside to that is it's hard to be aggressive and intense while you're concentrating on doing things right."
With a new coaching staff comes a new approach. Lickliter and crew settle into Iowa City stressing a greater emphasis on defense and teamwork, as well as integrating a new offensive game plan.
"I think we're starting to get used to [the system]," said Peterson, the first recruit of the Lickliter era. "Obviously, it's still going to take us a little bit more time in game situations to actually pick it up, but I think we're starting to get very comfortable with our offense."
Oct. 27 was a start. The intrasquad scrimmage was the first time for Lickliter, Peterson, and other Hawkeye newcomers to experience a Carver crowd.
"It took us a minute to get used to it, because although we've practiced with each other, it's just a different atmosphere with the game going and so many people there," Peterson said.
Lickliter agreed with Peterson's assessment on the gathering that made its way from the football game to watch the hoopsters compete against one another.
"I was impressed," he said. "I've been involved in intrasquad scrimmages before that sure didn't draw this many people and have this kind of atmosphere. I think it was good for our guys."
Iowa will kick off the regular season at home Nov. 9 against Idaho State. On Thursday, the Hawkeyes will welcome Simpson College to Carver for an exhibition.
While Lickliter hasn't decided on his starting five for the Thursday evening contest, he did make clear that no matter who his starters and reserves are, all the players could expect opportunities to come their way throughout the entire 2007-08 season.
"I've got until Thursday," he said. "I think this group will fully understand a starting five is not a goal in itself. It's [about] how well we play together, how prepared we are as individuals, and understanding that you make a contribution no matter how much you play."
E-mail DI reporter Sam Martin at:
samuel-martin@uiowa.edu
Tony Freeman had a game-high 18 points to lead the Black squad to a 51-49 win in the 16th-annual Black and Gold Blowout. Senior Justin Johnson had 17 points for the Gold squad, and freshman guard Jeff Peterson added 11.
"We're just trying to get our feet wet and get guys going in the flow of things," Freeman said.
Lickliter liked the team's performance but said he thought the team lacked fluidity.
"What you saw out there is a group of guys who really care, and they're trying hard to complement one another and pick up the system," Lickliter said. "The kind of downside to that is it's hard to be aggressive and intense while you're concentrating on doing things right."
With a new coaching staff comes a new approach. Lickliter and crew settle into Iowa City stressing a greater emphasis on defense and teamwork, as well as integrating a new offensive game plan.
"I think we're starting to get used to [the system]," said Peterson, the first recruit of the Lickliter era. "Obviously, it's still going to take us a little bit more time in game situations to actually pick it up, but I think we're starting to get very comfortable with our offense."
Oct. 27 was a start. The intrasquad scrimmage was the first time for Lickliter, Peterson, and other Hawkeye newcomers to experience a Carver crowd.
"It took us a minute to get used to it, because although we've practiced with each other, it's just a different atmosphere with the game going and so many people there," Peterson said.
Lickliter agreed with Peterson's assessment on the gathering that made its way from the football game to watch the hoopsters compete against one another.
"I was impressed," he said. "I've been involved in intrasquad scrimmages before that sure didn't draw this many people and have this kind of atmosphere. I think it was good for our guys."
Iowa will kick off the regular season at home Nov. 9 against Idaho State. On Thursday, the Hawkeyes will welcome Simpson College to Carver for an exhibition.
While Lickliter hasn't decided on his starting five for the Thursday evening contest, he did make clear that no matter who his starters and reserves are, all the players could expect opportunities to come their way throughout the entire 2007-08 season.
"I've got until Thursday," he said. "I think this group will fully understand a starting five is not a goal in itself. It's [about] how well we play together, how prepared we are as individuals, and understanding that you make a contribution no matter how much you play."
E-mail DI reporter Sam Martin at:
samuel-martin@uiowa.edu
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